Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group, LLC Blog

The exit opportunity

Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Wed, Sep 22, 2010 @ 06:09 AM

everything basketball


A friend of mine recently left his job at a major academic institution where he worked his way up from the ground floor into a middle management position before leaving for the upper ranks at a competitor’s on the west coast.  As a courtesy to the organization in which he had given so much, and so much given to him, he approached his superior's administrative assistant and asked if there was a formal “exit interview” that he was to partake in prior to his final day at the end of the week.

“Usually only people that want to complain ask for exit interviews,” the administrative assistant explained, “did you still want to speak with him?”

“ummm, well, no, not anymore,” my friend replied.

Wouldn’t an exit interview be the perfect opportunity to gain feedback into your organization’s weaknesses, customer service, and operating procedures?

Sure the employee may be salty that they are leaving, but what chance for feedback do you have otherwise once they’ve walked out the door?

You should search out that employee and simply ask, “what can we do better?” This is the only time they won’t be afraid to tell you exactly how it is.  You can sift through the salt and substance after, but once they’re gone, they’re gone, and hence so is the opportunity for your organization to improve.

 


Art Horne is the Coordinator of Care and Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Men’s Basketball Team at Northeastern University, Boston MA.  He can be reached at a.horne@neu.edu.

Topics: Art Horne, basketball resources, Ownership, Good to Great, discipline, customer service, everything basketball, development, managing

Your Ownership Stake Equals 100%

Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Tue, Aug 17, 2010 @ 06:08 AM

I had a manager from another company give me a call recently for a reference on a employee that worked for me several years ago.  He explained a little about the position and then I in turn told him a little about the employee's responsibilities here and how this particular person fit in with the group.  When I was done, he asked me how this employee stood out from the rest.  Great question.  My answer was immediate and without hesitation; they were one of my top students because they took ownership of their position. 

What is ownership exactly?  It's the difference between someone who does the minimum of what is expected of them and someone that takes a legitimate interest in improving their workplace.  Let's take the Ownership Quiz . . .

* During staff meetings, are you the person who volunteers for new tasks/projects or are you the person who lowers their eyes hoping someone else raises their hand?
* Do you take pride in the work you do on a day to day basis or do you simply do what is asked of you and be glad it's done?
* Do you take the initiative, bringing ideas for positive change to your office or are you the person that simply complains about how things could be better?
* If there is an issue outside of business hours, do your coworkers know it's alright to contact you or are they under the impression that would be a cardinal sin?
* Do you subscribe more to the idea of getting your job done rather than the phrase "business hours" or are you punching a clock at 9a and 5p every single day?

What if your well-being was tied directly into the performance of your whole office?  Well, I've got news for you.  It is.  Ownership is about treating your position as if you owned your own business.  It is about being a catalyst for positive growth in your environment regardless of whether you are the VP or an entry-level employee.  When you own your position, you are telling your supervisors, your co-workers, and the employees under you that you care.  You are providing a positive example for all and working towards bettering your environment regardless of the situation.  The highest compliment that I can give to any of my employees is that they took ownership of their position.  These are the ones that stood and continue to stand out from the crowd, even years later. 

Are you taking ownership of your workplace or just getting in the way of those that do?

 

Shaun Bossio is the Assistant Business Manager and ProShop Manager at Boston University FitRec.
He can be reached at sbossio@bu.edu

Topics: basketball resources, basketball training programs, athletic training conference, boston hockey summit, athletic training, Ownership, Good to Great, discipline, athletic trainer, customer service, everything basketball, development, managing, Announcements

You're going to need those Bridges someday, so put down the Matches

Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Sun, Jul 25, 2010 @ 09:07 AM

Let's say, hypothetically speaking, that we have an employee (let's call him LJ) who is so good at his job that he is sought after by every corporation in his particular industry.  LJ's current contract has expired and he is exploring his options.  His current corporation is offering more money than anyone else and a chance to stay in the only company he has ever worked for with the opportunity to take them to new heights.  Unfortunately for his company and customer-base, LJ decides to take his talents elsewhere and try something new.  Unfortunately for LJ, after making his decision he makes a big spectacle of his departure, giving his company zero notice, zero chance to replace him, and crippling them for the near future.  LJ's CEO (let's call him DW) is so upset with the slight that he makes a rash decision to publicly denounce LJ and blame him for all of the shortcomings of his company.  LJ's situation is immediately the talk of the industry and the talk is centered around how he could not have played his situation any worse. Once an enormously popular employee with limitless potential, LJ has now succeeded in alienating a large number of his coworkers and customers, all former supporters, that he worked so hard to amass. 

During the course of your career you will have at least one instance where you have the opportunity to take your talents to a different employer.  That is part of the game.  Situations change, your performance and skills evolve, and new opportunities arise.  Though these partings are not always amicable and relations can become strained, it is counterintuitive to burn a bridge that you have spent so much time and energy constructing.  Not only did your old company, coworkers, and customers play a part in getting you to where you are today, but they might still play an important role for you down the road.  Even when the situation behind your departure might not be ideal, it is always better to take the high road than a parting shot.  Losing contacts, prospective employers/ees, or customers because you were unhappy at the end is never the smart way to go. 

Sure, LJ is doing just fine for himself right now in Miami (or wherever, because this is purely hypothetical), but you never know when he might need that bridge after all. 


Shaun Bossio is the Assistant Business Manager and ProShop Manager at Boston University FitRec.
He can be reached at sbossio@bu.edu

Topics: LeBron James, Dan Gilbert, Cleveland Cavs, everything basketball

Sorry. No Guns in the Magic Kingdom

Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Tue, Jun 29, 2010 @ 20:06 PM

Whether you're in favor of it or not, the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution allows you the right to bear arms. That is unless you're visiting the Magic Kingdom. Apparently, Mickey Mouse doesn't think it's a good idea to bring hand guns into theme parks - pistols and peppermint patties just don't mix. 

So if Walt Disney can say no to this absolute silliness (believe it or not people are actually fighting Walt on this one) we can also say no to some of the silliness that goes on in our weight rooms as well.

I know, the Second amendment allows you to bear arms.  And I know a Strength and Conditioning degree allows you to program Bench Press every Monday, and allows you to put a bar on someone's back and load it up because you have to get those numbers. But just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Thanks for the lesson in common sense Walt.

bsmpg

 

 

 

 

 

Art Horne is the Coordinator of Care and Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Men's Basketball Team at Northeastern University, Boston MA.  He can be reached at a.horne@neu.edu.

 

 

Topics: basketball performance, basketball training programs, boston hockey summit, hockey conference, strength and conditioning books, sports medicine conference, everything basketball, sports performance, strength and conditioning tips

Sick? No Soup for You!

Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Mon, Jun 14, 2010 @ 21:06 PM

I've heard from a number of people in the past that in ancient China, the model doctor was the one who was able to teach a healthy lifestyle in order to prevent diseases, disability, injury and illness. Doctors got paid when they were successful (in keeping their patrons healthy) - not when the patients fell ill (which was considered a sign of failure!)

I don't know if this is actually true or not, but the concept is right up my alley.

Imagine if you were only paid when your patients/athletes were healthy?

How would this change your yearly training plans? Rehabilitation protocols? Strength programs? Pre-participation screenings and exercise prescriptions?

Would you be forced to take on a night shift at McDonalds to pay the bills?

 

Art Horne is the Coordinator of Care and Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Men's Basketball Team at Northeastern University, Boston MA.  He can be reached at a.horne@neu.edu.

Topics: Good to Great, athletic trainer, everything basketball, Seth Godin, sports performance, strength coach, off season training

A Legend Passes

Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Mon, Jun 7, 2010 @ 08:06 AM

A Legend Passes
Coach John Wooden
 
john wooden
 
Oct 14, 1910 – June 4, 2010
“Make everyday your masterpiece”

Coach Wooden will be remembered for his 10 NCAA Basketball Championships, including an unprecedented 7 in a row, along with his 620 total wins including 88 straight.  But I’ll remember Coach Wooden for teaching athletes prior to each season how to properly put on their socks and shoes to avoid getting blisters.

Mastering the basics.

Now there’s a novel idea that all athletic trainers and strength coaches can apply when dealing with athletes.

Thanks John.

 

Topics: athletic training conference, athletic training, john wooden, everything basketball